All the stories of Hans Christian Andersen are beloved, but perhaps no other story has achieved the fame of The Little Mermaid. It is fitting then, that paper-engineering wizard Robert Sabuda should choose this story for his 25th pop-up book extravaganza. Like his other classic story adaptations, the artwork here calls to mind stained glass, and he integrates lots of interesting textures, details and sidebar texts to capture the imagination. Sabuda exploits the dimensionality of the pop-ups to their fullest: shipwrecks sail out at readers, and underwater castles, forests and a final wedding cathedral unfold in stunning paper architecture.
Although it's clearly about the art, it would be a mistake to pass over Sabuda's elegant adaptation of Andersen's text. He has freshened the language but stayed true to the original story--which means young readers will not find the name Ariel here, something they may not even notice. The only caveat is the fragility of the pop-ups--in even the most responsible hands, there are likely to be damages after a few readings. That being said, this is a lush, magical gift for children and grownups alike. --Kristen McLean, former head of the Association of Booksellers for Children, founder and CEO of Bookigee